The document provides an overview of Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) techniques. It defines DFMA as a methodology used to minimize product cost through design and process improvements. The objectives are to understand how product design influences cost, criteria for part minimization, quantitative analysis of design efficiency, and the importance of involving production engineers. Design for Assembly (DFA) focuses on reducing assembly cost by minimizing parts and operations, while Design for Manufacturing (DFM) aims to reduce part production cost through process optimization. Both seek to lower material, overhead and labor costs. The document outlines DFA and DFM principles and processes to analyze and optimize designs.

1. Introduction to
Design for (Cost Effective) Assembly and
Manufacturing
Source: David Stienstra (Rose-Hulman)

2. Purpose Statement
To provide an overview of Design for Manufacturing
and Assembly (DFMA) techniques, which are used to
minimize product cost through design and process
improvements.

3. Objectives
 Participants will understand:
– Differences and Similarities between Design for
Manufacturing and Design for Assembly
– Describe how product design has a primary
influence
– Basic criteria for Part Minimization
– Quantitative analysis of a design’s efficiency
– Critique product designs for ease of assembly
– The importance of involving production engineers
in DFMA analysis

4. Design for Assembly
Definition: DFA is the method of design of the
product for ease of assembly.
‘…Optimization
of the part/system
assembly’
DFA is a tool used to assist the design teams in the design of
products that will transition to productions at a minimum cost,
focusing on the number of parts, handling and ease of assembly.

5. Design for Manufacturing
Definition: DFM is the method of design for ease of
manufacturing of the collection of parts that will form
the product after assembly.
‘Optimization of the
manufacturing
process…’
DFA is a tool used to select the most cost effective material and
process to be used in the production in the early stages of product
design.

6. Differences
Design for Assembly (DFA)
 concerned only with reducing product assembly cost
– minimizes number of assembly operations
– individual parts tend to be more complex in design
Design for Manufacturing (DFM)
 concerned with reducing overall part production cost
– minimizes complexity of manufacturing operations
– uses common datum features and primary axes

7. Similarities
 Both DFM and DFA seek to reduce material,
overhead, and labor cost.
 They both shorten the product development cycle
time.
 Both DFM and DFA seek to utilize standards to
reduce cost

8. Terminology
 Design for Manufacturing (DFM) and Design
for Assembly (DFA) are now commonly
referred to as a single methodology, Design
for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA) .

9. Design
70 - 80%
Manufacturing
20 - 30%
What Internal Organization has the most
Influence over Price, Quality, & Cycle Time?

10. Time Into the Design Process
Percentage
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
High
Low
Cost of Change
Design Freedom to
Make Changes
Knowledge of Design
Behavior
Production
Process
Capability
Knowledge
DFSS
Marketing
Knowledge
Knowledge and Learning

11. Concept Design
Design for
Assembly
Design for
Manufacturing
Detailed Design
Optimize Design for
Part Count and
Assembly
Optimize Design for
Production Readiness
Sequence of Analysis

12. Design for Assembly
DFA is a process that REQUIRES
involvement of Assembly Engineers

13. Design for Assembly Principles
 Minimize part count
 Design parts with self-locating features
 Design parts with self-fastening features
 Minimize reorientation of parts during assembly
 Design parts for retrieval, handling, & insertion
 Emphasize ‘Top-Down’ assemblies
 Standardize parts…minimum use of fasteners.
 Encourage modular design
 Design for a base part to locate other components
 Design for component symmetry for insertion

14. DFA Process
 Product Information: functional requirements
 Functional analysis
 Identify parts that can be standardized
 Determine part count efficiencies
Step 2
Step 1
 Analyze data for new design
Step 3
 Identify handling (grasp & orientation) opportunities
Step 4
 Identify insertion (locate & secure) opportunities
Step 5
Step 6  Identify opportunities to reduce secondary operations
 Identify quality (mistake proofing) opportunities
Benchmark when possible
 Determine your practical part count
Step 7

15. DFA Analysis Worksheet
Cummins
Tools

16.  Product Information: functional requirements
 Functional analysis
 Identify parts that can be standardized
 Determine part count efficiencies
Step One

17. Considerations/Assumptions
 The first part is essential (base part)
 Non-essential parts:
– Fasteners
– Spacers, washers, O-rings
– Connectors, leads
 Do not include liquids as parts
(e.g.. glue, gasket sealant, lube)
Step One

18. Part Identification
 List parts in the
order of assembly
 Assign/record part
number

19. So take it apart!

20. Count Parts & Interfaces
 List number of parts
(Np)
 List number of
interfaces (Ni)

27. Your Turn
 List parts in the order of assembly.
 Assign part number to keep up with the part.
 List number of parts (Np)
 List number of interfaces (Ni)

28. Current
Design
Consider
Specification
Other
Options
Does the part
move relative
to all other
parts already
assembled?
Is the part of
a different
material, or
isolated from,
all other parts
already
assembled?
Is the part
separate to
allow for its
in-service
adjustment or
replacement?
Is the
movement
essential for
the product
to function?
Is a different
material or
isolation
essential for
the product
to function?
Is the
adjustment or
replacement
essential?
Must the part
be separate
to provide the
required
movement?
Must the part
be separate
to satisfy the
different
material or
isolation
requirement?
Must the part
be separate
to enable the
adjustment or
replacement?
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
Y
Essential
Part
N N N
N N N
Y
Y
Y
N N N
Non
Essential
Part
Determine Theoretical Min. No. of Parts
Movement
Isolation
Adjustment
or
Replacement

29. Current Design Consider Specification Other Options
Does the part move
relative to all other
parts already
assembled?
Is the part of a
different material, or
isolated from, all
other parts already
assembled?
Is the part separate
to allow for its in-
service adjustment
or replacement?
Is the movement
essential for the
product to function?
Is a different
material or isolation
essential for the
product to function?
Is the adjustment or
replacement
essential?
Must the part be
separate to provide
the required
movement?
Must the part be
separate to satisfy
the different
material or isolation
requirement?
Must the part be
separate to enable
the adjustment or
replacement?
Y
Y
Y Y
Y
Y
Essential
Part
N N N
N N N
Y
Y
Y
N N N
Non Essential
Part
Functional Analysis
Movement
Isolation
Adjustment
or
Replacement

30. Determine if Parts Can be Standardized
 Can the current parts be
standardized?:
– Within the assembly
station
– Within the full assembly
– Within the assembly plant
– Within the corporation
– Within the industry
 Should they be?
 (Only put a “Y” if both
answers are yes…)

31. Theoretical Part Count Efficiency
Theoretical Part
Count Efficiency
Theoretical Min. No. Parts
Total Number of Parts
Theoretical Part 1
Count Efficiency 10
Theoretical Part
Count Efficiency
=
= * 100
= 10%
* 100
Goal
Rule of Thumb – Part Count
Efficiency Goal > 60%

32. DFA Complexity Factor – Definition
 Cummins Inc. metric for assessing complexity of a
product design
 Two Factors
 Np – Number of parts
 Ni – Number of part-to-part interfaces
– Multiply the two and take the square root of the total
– This is known as the DFA Complexity Factor
S Np x S Ni

33. DFA Complexity Factor – Target
 Smaller is better (Minimize Np and Ni)
 Let Npt = Theoretical Minimum Number of parts
– from the Functional Analysis
– Npt = 5
 Let Nit = Theoretical minimum number of part to part interfaces
– Nit = 2(Npt-1)
– Nit = 2(5-1) = 8
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 1
DCF = S Np x S Ni
DCFt = S Npt x S Nit
DCFt = 5 x 8 = 6.32

34. Determine Relative Part Cost Levels
 Subjective estimate
only
 Low/Medium/High
relative to other parts
in the assembly
and/or product line

35. Cost Breakdown
 Media paper 21.4%
 Centertube 3.6%
 Endplates (2) 3.0%
 Plastisol 2.6%
 Inner Seal 4.0%
 Spring 0.9%
 Shell 31.4%
 Nutplate 21.0%
 Retainer 4.8%
 Loctite 0.3%
 End Seal 7.0%

36. Step Two
 Determine Practical Minimum Part Count

37. Determine Practical Minimum Part Count
 Team assessment of
practical changes
 Tradeoffs between
part cost and
assembly cost

38. Innovation
No. Parts
Current Design
Practical Min.
No. Parts
Practical & Achievable
Theoretical Number of
Parts...
Theoretical Min.
No. Parts
‘Blue Sky’
Creativity & Innovation

39. Part Count Reduction
Assembly Saving
(DFA)
Part Manufacture
Saving (DFM)
Saving
Optimum
Total Saving
Cost of Assembly Vs Cost of Part Manufacture

40. Implementation
Risk
High
Medium
Low
Short
Term
Medium
Term
Long
Term
Step Two
Idea Classification

41. Don’t constrain yourself to incremental
improvement unless you have to!
This style doesn’t tear paper like the claw style and is much cheaper
to produce!

42. Steps One
& Two
 Product Information:
functional requirements
 Functional analysis
 Identify parts that can be
standardized
 Determine part count
efficiencies
 Determine your practical part count
Instructions
Your Turn...

43. Fasteners
 A study by Ford Motor Co. revealed that
threaded fasteners were the most common
cause of warranty repairs
 This finding is echoed in more recent survey of
automotive mechanics, in which 80% reported
finding loose or incorrect fasteners in cars they
serviced
Step One

44. Component Elimination
Example: Rollbar Redesign
 24 Parts
 8 different parts
 multiple mfg. & assembly
processes necessary
 2 Parts
 2 Manufacturing processes
 one assembly step
‘..If more than 1/3 of the components in a product are
fasteners, the assembly logic should be questioned.’

45. Fasteners: Cummins Engines
Data from Munroe & Associates October 2002
Engine Type Number of
Components
Number of
Fasteners
Percent
Fasteners
B Series, 6 Cyl 5.9L 1086 436 40%
B Series, 4 Cyl 3.9L 718 331 46%
C Series, 8.3L 1111 486 44%

46. Standard Bolt Sizes
 Minimize extra sizes to both reduce inventory and
eliminate confusion during assembly
M5 x .8 M6 x 1.0 M8 x 1.25 M10 x 1.5 M11 x 1.25M12 x 1.25M12 x 1.75 M14 x 1.5 M16 x 2.0 Qty Required
12mm 0
14mm 2 2
16mm 3 3
20mm 4 8 8 20
25mm 6 6 12
30mm 3 8 11
35mm 10 35 45
39.5mm 32 12 10 4 58
40mm 41 27 6 74
45mm 22 9 1 32
50mm 4 9 25 18 12 68
60mm 13 8 15 36
70mm 6 6
Required 2 7 93 152 75 16 21 0 1 367
Candidates for elimination

47. Fastener Cost
 Select the
most
inexpensive
fastening
method
required plastic bending
riveting
screwing
snap fit

48. General Design Principles
Self-fastening features

49. General Design Principles
Asymmetric Part Symmetry of a part
makes assembly easier
Symmetry eliminates reorientation

50. General Design Principles
Top-Down Assembly

51. General Design Principles
Modular Assemblies
1. Imaging
2. Drives
3. Development
4. Transfer/Stripping
5. Cleaning
6. Fusing
7. Charge/Erase
8. Copy Handling
9. Electrical Distribution
10. Photoreceptor
11. Input/Output Devices
Xerox photocopier

52.  Designed
 Detailed
 Prototyped
 Produced
 Scrapped
 Tested
 Re-engineered
 Purchased
 Progressed
 Received
 Inspected
 Rejected
 Stocked
 Outdated
 Written-off
 Unreliable
 Recycled
 late from the supplier!
Eliminated Parts are NEVER…

53. Step
Three
 Identify quality (mistake proofing)
opportunities

54. Mistake Proofing Issues
 Cannot assemble wrong part
 Cannot omit part
 Cannot assemble part wrong
way around.
symmetrical parts
asymmetrical parts

55. Mistake Proofing Issues
72 Wiring Harness
Part Numbers
CDC - Rocky Mount,
NC

56. Step Four
 Identify handling (grasp & orientation)
opportunities

57. Quantitative criteria
 Handling Time: based on assembly process
and complexity of parts
– How many hands are required?
– Is any grasping assistance needed?
– What is the effect of part symmetry on assembly?
– Is the part easy to align/position?

58. Handling Difficulty
 Size
 Thickness
 Weight
 Fragility
 Flexibility
 Slipperiness
 Stickiness
 Necessity for using 1) two hands, 2) optical
magnification, or 3) mechanical assistance

59. Handling Difficulty
size slipperiness
sharpness flexibility

60. Eliminate Tangling/Nesting

61. Step Five
 Identify insertion (locate & secure)
opportunities

62. Quantitative criteria
 Insertion time: based on difficulty required
for each component insertion
– Is the part secured immediately upon insertion?
– Is it necessary to hold down part to maintain
location?
– What type of fastening process is used?
(mechanical, thermal, other?)
– Is the part easy to align/position?

63. Insertion Issues
 Provide self-aligning & self locating parts

64. Insertion Issues
 Ensure parts do not need to be held in position

65. Insertion Issues
 Parts are easy to insert.
 Provide adequate access & visibility

66. Insertion Issues
 Provide adequate access and visibility

67. Step Six
 Identify opportunities to reduce secondary
operations

68. Eliminate Secondary Operations
 Re-orientation (assemble in Z axis)
 Screwing, drilling, twisting, riveting, bending,
crimping.
Rivet

69. Eliminate Secondary Operations
 Welding, soldering, gluing.
 Painting, lubricating, applying liquid or gas.
 Testing, measuring, adjusting.

70. Error = Sum all Y’s in Error Columns
Proofing Theoretical Min. No. Parts
Handling = Sum all Y’s in Handling Columns
Index Theoretical Min. No. Parts
Insertion = Sum all Y’s in Insertion Columns
Index Theoretical Min. No. Parts
2nd Op. = Sum all Y’s in 2nd Op. Columns
Index Theoretical Min. No. Parts
Assembly Metrics

71. Analyze All Metrics
First consider:
Reduce part count & type Part Count Efficiency
& DFA Complexity Factor
Then think about:
Error Proofing Error Index
Then think about:
Ease of handling Handling Index
Ease of insertion Insertion Index
Eliminate secondary ops. 2nd Op. Index
Set Target Values for These Measures

72. Complete the
remaining columns &
calculate your
product’s
Assemblability
Indices
Instructions
Steps
Two - Six
Your Turn...

73. Step
Seven
 Analyze data for new design

74. DFA Process
 Product Information: functional requirements
 Functional analysis
 Identify parts that can be standardized
 Determine part count efficiencies
Step 2
Step 1
 Analyze data for new design
Step 3
 Identify handling (grasp & orientation) opportunities
Step 4
 Identify insertion (locate & secure) opportunities
Step 5
Step 6  Identify opportunities to reduce secondary operations
 Identify quality (mistake proofing) opportunities
Benchmark when possible
 Determine your practical part count
Step 7

75. In order of importance:
DFA Guidelines
 Reduce part count & types
 Ensure parts cannot be installed incorrectly
 Strive to eliminate adjustments
 Ensure parts self-align & self-locate
 Ensure adequate access & unrestricted vision
 Ensure parts are easily handled from bulk
 Minimize reorientation (assemble in Z axis) &
secondary operations during assembly
 Make parts symmetrical or obviously asymmetrical

76. Consideration of True Production costs and the
Bill of Material Costs,
Typical Costing Total Cost
Pareto by Part Cost
1. Castings $$
2. Forging $$
3.
-------
------
------
-------
------
n. Fasteners c
Pareto by Total Cost
1. Fasteners $$$$$
2. -----
3. ------
-------
------
------
-------
------
n. Castings $$
Understanding Product Costs

77. Have we selected the Best Technology or Process
to fabricate the parts?
Is hard tooling Required...
Selection of Manufacturing Method
Have we selected the best Material needed for
function and cost?
Have we looked at all the new
Technology that is available

78. Has the Design Addressed Automation
Possibilities?
Is the Product configured
with access for and the
parts shaped for the
implementation of
automation?
Selection of Manufacturing Method

79. Part Features that are Critical To the
Products Functional Quality
Every Drawing
Call Out is not
Critical to
Function and
Quality
Understanding Component Features

80. Key DFMA Principles
 Minimize Part Count
 Standardize Parts and Materials
 Create Modular Assemblies
 Design for Efficient Joining
 Minimize Reorientation of parts during Assembly
and/or Machining
 Simplify and Reduce the number of Manufacturing
Operations
 Specify ‘Acceptable’ surface Finishes for
functionality

81. 1. Assembly Automation and Product Design
G. Boothroyd, Marcell Dekker, Inc. 1992
2. Product Design for Manufacture and Assembly
G. Boothroyd and P. Dewhurst, Boothroyd Dewhurst, Inc. 1989
Marcell Dekker, Inc. 1994
3. Design and Analysis of Manufacturing Systems
Prof. Rajan Suri University of Wisconsin 1995
4. Product Design for Assembly: The Methodology Applied
G. Lewis and H. Connelly
5. Simultaneous Engineering Study of Phase II Injector Assembly line
Giddings & Lewis 1997
6. Design for Manufacturing Society of Manufacturing Engineers,
(VIDEO)
References